Reflection

Luke 19:1-10

Today we are on the road with Jesus entering Jericho. As of late, the crowd is growing and quite bustling around Jesus. We not long ago witnessed Jesus giving a blind beggar sight. What stands out today is that a man runs ahead of us to climb a tree because he too wanted to see Jesus. As he climbs up in the tree, Jesus approaches him, tells him to come down, and that He is coming over to the man’s house. As the man comes down, many in the crowd recognize him. They say he is Zacchaeus, a tax collector, a traitor, and a sinner. They are very negative about what they are observing.

But what happens next is unexplainable. A man who has everything he could possibly want or need because of his wealth. Decides from his encounter with Jesus to give half of everything he has to the poor and pay back each person he has cheated four times what he cheated them. Will that even be possible in his lifetime? It reminds me of an interaction between Jesus and a rich man earlier on our journey. The first rich man wants to prove he is worthy of heaven, but when asked to sell everything and follow Jesus, says that is simply too much. However, Zacchaeus isn’t asked to sell everything and makes the decision on his own after encountering Jesus to give up his wealth in an act of repentance.

How often do we judge people as too far gone beyond the point of redemption? How often do we feel we are beyond the point of redemption? I think we just witnessed that no one is beyond redemption, and at the same time, redemption is more than being cleaned; it’s about living into who Christ calls us to be.

Devotional Questions

How are you like Zacchaeus? What do you place your faith in instead of Christ? Why might Christ be calling you to be bold and “climb a tree to see Him”?

How are you like those that murmur about Zacchaeus? How might you be missing the opportunity to join Jesus in his pursuit of “seeking and saving the lost”?

What can you do to accept Jesus’ invitation into your life?

How can you look past the Zacchaeus in your life’s reputation to share Christ with them?

Lord, help us to invite you into our lives so that we can be transformed into who you have always wanted us to be. Amen